This Dog's Victory Stunned the World
Nimble, the unexpected champion, broke all barriers at the Westminster Dog Show. Her win is a game-changer for all mixed breeds, demonstrating that any dog can reach the pinnacle of success.
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STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- For the first time in history, an All-American dog (mixed breed) won the agility competition at Westminster
- Nimble is a 6-year-old female Border Collie and Papillon mix who blew the field away with an amazing 28.76 second run
- In August 2024, Nimble will represent the U.S. at the European Open Agility in the U.K.
- Agility training can be tremendously beneficial for your dog, you, and the bond you share
For the very first time in the history of the Westminster Dog Show, an “All-American” (mixed breed) dog won the agility competition. The winner, a little girl named Nimble from Ellicott City, MD, is a Border Collie with a “little bit of Papillon” in the mix.
“I am so thrilled that my dog was able to wow the crowd in New York, and I was able to bring home the big prize back to Maryland,” Nimble’s human and trainer, Cynthia Hornor, told WTOP News.1
Nimble’s Amazing 28.76 Run for the Title
The Westminster agility competition has traditionally excluded mixed breed dogs, and only recently lifted the ban. Purebred Border Collie Truman, another of Hornor’s dogs and Nimble’s housemate, won the competition last year.
“The Border Collies really do have just a little bit more — they turn better, they’re a little bit faster, usually, than most dogs,” Hornor explained.
Nimble bested 50 dogs for the win, with a flawlessly executed 28.76 run. Watch it here:
Managing a Champion Before Her Event
Hornor told WTOP News she was probably a little more nervous than Nimble going into the final event, in part because it was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, NY.
“I’m a tennis fan so I keep thinking, ‘This is where Roger Federer walked down to go play,’” she said. “When you’re coming down that long, narrow hall to come in [to the arena] and you see the ‘Pressure is a privilege’ sign, which lets you know that feeling, that pressure, is actually a really good thing, don’t be nervous.”
Despite her own nervousness, Hornor focused on keeping Nimble’s excitement under control ahead of her runs until it was time to walk onto the course for the final event.
“Then, she very quickly realized where she was at and what she wanted to do, and then she was just really happy and excited,” Hornor said.
According to Hornor, even though Nimble has always been fast and “likes to do everything at 150% speed” when she’s competing, preparing her for the Westminster event has been years in the making. The prime age for agility dogs is around 6, which is Nimble’s current age.
Next Up for Nimble: The European Open Agility Event
In August, Nimble, who has shown the world that any breed of dog can compete, will represent the U.S. at the European Open Agility event in the U.K. Hornor has trained Dachshunds, mixed breed rescues from Kuwait, and even Bull Mastiffs for the sport.
“I think there’s a spot in agility for everybody and their dog and it just helps them bond with their dog and have even more fun with their dog,” Hornor said.
Hornor’s first priority is to ensure her dogs they are treated like pets.
“They’re pets first because the amount of time that we actually do agility is very small, versus the time we go hiking or swimming, or just lounge around our house,” Hornor said. “I always look for dogs that will excel, as much as I can, in agility and I’ve been very blessed and lucky to have several really nice dogs.”
After Nimble’s award-winning run, she celebrated with some steak and a swim, one of her favorite activities.
Agility Stimulates the Canine Drive to Run, Jump, Chase, Hunt
Agility training involves teaching your dog to run through obstacle courses, weave around poles, dash through tunnels, jump through rings, walk on seesaws and more. Needless to say, this level of activity can deliver invaluable mental and physical benefits to your dog (and to you!), and you can approach it as a “just for fun” adventure, or competitively.
Some great reasons to consider the sport with your dog, according to agility handler Jill Hedgecock in an article for the online magazine The Wildest:2
- You get to bond with your canine companion while engaged in a fun activity
- You learn new ways to communicate with your dog
- You both get plenty of exercise
- It’s an opportunity to improve your dog’s behavior and confidence outside the ring
During agility training, your dog learns how to master various obstacles, such as weave poles, tunnels and a teeter board. Basic agility courses also feature standard jumps, a tire to jump through, a dog walk, and a pause table. And while agility courses may initially feel unnatural to your dog, they’re actually designed to trigger his natural instincts.
Given the chance, most dogs will engage in hunting and chasing activities. In the wild, this involves jumping over fallen trees, ducking under bushes, running up and down hills and more. With time and practice, many dogs begin to approach agility courses as exciting opportunities to use their natural skills as hunters and athletes.
Agility training requires that you and your dog work as a team. As her handler, your job is to run alongside her and guide her through the course using the movements of your body along with hand and voice signals. This will require mutual trust between you and your dog, and the ability to effectively communicate with each other.
The more you practice, the more you’ll improve your ability to concentrate and persevere, and the benefits to your dog will include improved alertness, endurance, stamina, speed, and communication and obedience skills.3
If you’re doing agility training in your backyard, you can take the course at your own pace, however, competitively, the goal is to complete the course as quickly and accurately as possible. This, of course, means that you’ll get a workout, too, while running next to your dog. It will also be up to you to familiarize yourself with each course ahead of time.
